16 Months For Charlie Gilmour (Student Fees Demo)

[LemonDifficult]

I wasn't very sympathetic to the rioters but 16 months seems a long time to put someone this young away for. Ridiculous. He'll get the fright of his life in the first few weeks and then what? What's the point of all those extra months - at tax payers expense.

I guess he won't do the full term, but still. It seems crazy.

Throwing a dustbin and kicking an already broken window. Hardly rates 16 months.
A fewmonths cleaning the streets and c,eaning up graffiti seems a better idea

I get your point allegra and in fact I firmly agree with you
I reckon I'm in the 'sentences too low anyway' camp

I agree with riven. My son is at the age when they get over excited about issues and justice etc but really don't know what they are on about! Some of ds's friends can be a bit silly when they have been drinking/egging each other on and a bit gung ho but they are all lovely boys and I would hate to see one of them with a prison sentence which could affect their whole life. I don't think my ds would do anything like that but I don't think you can ever really know. Community service would have been better.

tbh without hearing all the evidence in the case you cant say.

it's an attack on the establishment - penalties will always be much harsher than those given to 'normal run of the mill' criminal types. who cares what happens to the plebs anyway - but threaten the ruling elite and watch the rule book being thrown

Well, least it takes peoples mind off the news Coulson stayed with Cameron at Chequers after his resignation. Plus all the phone hacking stuff.

i dunno about the sentencing thing catinthehat, but although I'm generally a leftie I think you're probably right. The area where I start to worry is with young offenders- where there probably really is still time for rehabilitation, is it really going to help to just bang 'em up for months on end and then let them out embitterered and more skilled in crime...

Probably none of this applies to Mr Gilmour but I still think that as well as being stupid at the demos he's been very unlucky.

true merci but....why the hell don't they sentence the likes of Pete Doherty for longer then (alright I know it's stretching it to call him 'elite', but he sure sets an example for a certain type of young man...)

gosh Riven- I must read the guardian webpage about that.

God I hope to feck some sh** sticks to Cameron after this.

He's Dave Gilmour's stepson, so Daddy isn't a rich and famous rock musician.

I wonder if people would be so outraged if it was say a football hooligan being sent down.
hmmm

No, 16 months in jail is just wrong for this. I think it's cruel, actually, when he'll know serious premeditated violent/drug crimes get less. Hopefully there'll be that much case law that he can appeal for a shorter sentance.

pmsl at cruel

2shoes, I think you'd had to have committed multiple acts of hooliganism to warrant that kind of sentence - and then, yes, I'd be less sympathetic since it wouldn't be a one off.

He has been adopted by him so yes Daddy is rich. Could it possibly include what they see as a desecration of a public monument?

But there were multiple acts of hooliganism, over what must have been some hours. And I do think starting fires is a serious public hazard; especially starting fires when you're out of your head on serious drugs. Apparently he was giggling in court while watching the video footage of himself. Nice.

I was on my way to work once years ago in chelsea and there was a huge fight after a football match It was a nightmare and an innocent bloke going past lost his eye and the boy who did it got a fine!

And yet the guy who drove into my car, was seen, and asked for 32 motoring offences to be taken into account, many dangerous, got let off. What a weird old world.
Wonder how long i will get for throwing a anppy at Cameron?

Says who arazmataz?

The Daily Telegraph.

I find I difficult to believe myself.

he went not guilty so lost any reduction

maybe he had previous? for possession of drugs?

look here for sentencing advice and previous case law
www.cps.gov.uk/legal/s_to_u/sentencing_manual/violent_disorder/

"IT IS NOT ONLY THE PRECISE NATUTE OF THE INDIVIDUAL ACTS BUT ALSO THE FACT THAT THE DEFENDANTS HAVE TAKEN PART."

it says

in caps

OK, violent disorder and drug abuse aren't petty crime. But, this guy has his life ahead of him and every reason to be a valuable citizen. Do we think 16 months is going to improve that prospect? I don't.

Good. What a wanker.